A Bizarre Case of Parasomnia
In a shocking turn of events, Victorian prosecutors have dropped a murder case against a woman who claimed she was asleep when she stabbed her husband to death during a camping trip.
Ilknur Caliskan, 47, was accused of killing her husband Serdar Caliskan in September 2023 at Mount Disappointment, north of Melbourne.
But in a surprising move, the prosecution discontinued the case, citing a lack of evidence to prove murder beyond reasonable doubt.
The Defence of Parasomnia
Caliskan’s lawyers had relied on a defence of “parasomnia”, a condition that includes abnormal behaviours such as sleepwalking, night terrors.
The case was called off during a brief administrative hearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria, with the prosecution barrister announcing that the Director of Public Prosecutions would no longer pursue the case.
A Precedent for Parasomnia Defences
This is not the first time a parasomnia defence has been used in a court of law.
In fact, there have been several cases where individuals have been acquitted of violent or sexual crimes after claiming they were asleep or suffering from a parasomnia-related condition.
One notable case is that of Canadian man Kenneth James Parks, who successfully used a defence of parasomnia after killing his mother-in-law and injuring his father-in-law while sleepwalking.
The Investigation and Trial
Caliskan had been released on bail last April to undergo testing by a Sydney-based sleep specialist, which may have been used to support her defence case.
The court had heard that Caliskan had no history of family violence or criminal offending before the killing, and that she maintained strong support from her family.
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It’s worth noting that while parasomnia defences are rare, they are not unheard of. In recent years, there have been several cases where individuals have used this defence to avoid conviction.
As the law continues to evolve and our understanding of sleep disorders grows, it will be interesting to see how courts approach these complex and often bizarre cases.
What’s Next for Caliskan?
With the murder charges dropped, Caliskan is now free to rebuild her life. However, the incident has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on her and her family.
As we reflect on this unusual case, we are reminded of the complexities of the human brain and the importance of continued research into sleep disorders and their effects on our behavior.